Short Story time!!

I couldn’t believe it. The woman I’ve worked with for the past five years passed away at the stroke of midnight. No one even knew she was sick. I’d be lying if I said my heart wasn’t broken so I’ll tell the truth. I am an emotional wreck. She was more than a co-worker; she was my mentor. Her being at an older and wiser age helped to guide me through the things she’s already sought after and conquered. Whenever she spoke I listened. Her wisdom had a hold on me that I couldn’t shake even on the days when I didn’t see her. Working at a busy law firm always kept me on my toes but I felt as though she was there to catch me as I fell. In any competitive corporation, your colleges tend to smile in your face while simultaneously stabbing you in the back but this woman was different. Her word was her bond. It disgusted me to hear our other co-workers say things like, “She’s too old.” “She’ll never make it in this business.” “She’s had her chance and obviously failed.” I ignored it at first but a month before her death it started to bother me. Not too long ago I would respond with, “She’s done nothing to you. Why must you feel the need to disrespect her like this? She knows exactly what you’re saying behind her back and I would have to agree with her when she says how no one is woman or man enough to say these things to her face.” The hardest part of my job was keeping all of this under wraps but as soon someone mentioned that she should be fired all rumors became uncontrollable. Believe me, everyone in the office tried their best to get rid of her but ultimately it was left up to corporate.

As of right now, a week after her death, I get a phone call from my job asking me to come in to discuss some paper work that needs my attention. At first I was very confused being that this has never happened to me before but then again it could be some documents that I forgot to file in the beginning of the week. No big deal, right? Well, I walk in to the conference room and all of my bosses are there. I begin to panic thinking, “Oh shit, what have I done now?” I try to smile and remain calm, cool and collected on the outside while smiling and shaking hands with all bosses. Long story short, the woman that has taught and mentored me for the past few months was the owner of the company and she left me her share of everything that she owned. Her lawyers were telling me something about the fact that I was willing to listen, grow and not let the job get the best of me made me the perfect candidate to take over her position. Honestly, I stopped listening after they told me everything else that was left to me. It was like a dream come true. I would have never known being that she used her maiden name while in the office so no one would suspect a thing. I use to get so nervous when exam time came up in college that I would start to doubt myself, get depressed and stress to the point that my face would break out. This time, I had no idea I was being tested and passed with flying colors. I walked in an employee and walked out the owner. Would it make sense if I said I feel like I’m on cloud 10? For the most part I won’t have to see those other co-workers that I spoke of earlier unless I need to. They’ll be working for me now and if I need to get in contact with them I know right where to find them. I guess life has a funny way of getting us to our destination without us knowing the path we’re taking.